Any plant parent can attest to the fact that growing plants isn’t an easy feat. Every plant species has its own unique requirements, meaning each plant needs a different type of soil, as well as a certain amount of sunlight, water, and nutrients to flourish. Taking care of plants gets even more complicated when you’re away from home, as you won’t be present to ensure that your plants continue to thrive.
Here’s what you need to know about caring for your plants while you’re away:
1. If you travel a lot, consider buying low maintenance plants
If you’re an avid traveller, it’s recommended that you purchase low maintenance plants to make it easier for your plants to survive while you’re gone. Low maintenance plants require way less care to thrive. These include aloe vera, snake plant, ivy, spider plant, ZZ plant, pothos, cactus, lucky bamboo, monstera, succulents, and more. Some of these plants only need to be watered once a month, making them the perfect choice for your low maintenance plant collection.
2. Try water wicking
Water wicking is an old school technique that involves using a large water container and cotton rope to ensure that plants are well-moisturised while you’re gone.
To water wick, get a large water container like a bucket or a vase, place the cotton rope into your container and make sure it reaches the bottom of your container as well as the soil of your plant. You should make sure that the cotton rope is placed a few centimetres into the soil’s surface without touching the plant’s roots.
This enables to travels from the water container to the plant, ensuring that your plant stays moisturized even while you’re away.
3. Bathe your plants
The idea of bathing your plants sounds quite odd, but it’s actually an efficient method of ensuring that they remain well hydrated while you’re away.
To bathe your plants, fill a sink or bathtub with a few centimetres of water. Place a towel in the sink or bathtub and place pot plants with good drainage in there. This method of ‘watering’ your plants while you’re away will keep them moisturized for up to a week.
It’s also important to take the lighting conditions of your bathroom into account as this may affect the health of your plants, especially if they require sunlight.
4. Create your own greenhouse with plastic
If you happen to be gone for more than a week, the plastic greenhouse method may be just what your plants need to survive your absence. All you need is a large plastic cover that can cover your plant.
First water your plant and then cover it with the plastic. Once you’ve covered your plant with the plastic cover, make sure it doesn’t have too much contact with the leaves. You should blow air into the plastic before sealing it. You can also add stakes to the pots to prevent the plastic from touching the plant.
Make sure you leave your plant in an area with indirect sunlight. This will cause water vapor to drip back down to the plant, eliminating the need for manual watering while you’re gone.
5. Use a bottle to keep your plants hydrated
A glass bottle can help you maintain your plants while you’re gone. All you need is a glass bottle with an aluminum cap, a hammer, nails, and pliers.
First puncture holes in the aluminum cap after using your pliers to remove the plastic lining inside it. You should make 5 small holes from the inside of the cap.
Next, fill the bottle with water and close it using the punctured cap. Make a hole in the soil of the plant you need to water and place the bottle cap first into the hole, ensuring that the bottle stays snug and doesn’t fall over.
This method will work for an average of 5 days before a refill is required.
By using the tips above, you can ensure that your plants continue to thrive even when you’re not at home.
